Did you know that although Black girls make up only 15% of public school students, they receive nearly half of all suspensions and expulsions?
On this International Day of the Girl Child, I am a bit reflective. Although Black girls account for only 15% of girls in public schools, Black girls receive almost half of suspensions and expulsions. This is according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office entitled: Nationally, Black Girls Receive More Frequent and More Severe Discipline in School than Other Girls .
"Black girls had higher rates of exclusionary discipline compared to White girls for similar behaviors such as defiance, disrespect, and disruption. The data also shows that in every state in the U.S., Black girls are disciplined at higher rates. When they also had a disability, exclusionary discipline rates of Black girls grew larger."
I call this "water is wet" news. Here's my story ... when I was in 9th grade I was sentenced to three days in the Student Adjustment Program (this was like in school detention) because my friends and I were caught scratching our names on the bathroom door. A door that had about 1000 names scratched into it dating back years and years. Was I wrong - absolutely? But I'm sure there could have been a better way to handle this. This was like a holding cell for kids who had been fighting, tardy, or whatever was deemed "too much" by administration. What was a 3 day sentence grew to more than 30 days because I got caught talking or chewing gum. Even then, I knew that something wasn't right about this. This wasn't a case of Black or white because the teacher was an older Black man. What it does reek of is the adultification of Black girls as this report exposes.
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Throughout my high school matriculation, I would reflect on this experience. I missed so much class that I couldn't keep up with my Biology lab and got a C on my first report card. To this day, I will argue with anyone that this one C prevented me from being in the Top 10 in high school. I was close... Thank God although these experiences shaped me, they don't define me. As I do the work with Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium I am firmly committed to getting more resources on the ground to combat this and many more issues that Black girls are facing so that they can experience the joy of girlhood with correction and love.
#southernblackgirls #internationaldayofthegirlchild
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1 个月Hey girl, hey Chanceé Lundy Russell! I love the vulnerability and power of this story! Your reflection on how Black girls face nearly half of all suspensions despite making up only 15% of students hit me hard. Your personal experience with exclusionary discipline speaks to how deeply this inequity runs. The adultification of Black girls is something we need to challenge--- let our girls be girls. And especially when we know Black women face a 1.5 times higher unemployment rate than White women in the workforce. Whew, cheers to changing the world! ?? The best part is — I know you're leading the charge! You never stop, and you go 'til done. I can't wait to see how you continue to interrupt the norm and create the new! ?? ??